Small town strangeness, Part Two: Bonneau has balls
For today's second tale of small town strangeness in the Palmetto State, we take you to Bonneau.
Bonneau is a small town in rural Berkeley County, so small that it's losing it's Post Office, but the town is showing that it's big in other ways, issuing a ticket to a motorist whose rear bumper sported a pair of dangling fake testicles:
Virginia Tice was given a $445 ticket on July 5 that accuses her of violating the state's obscene bumper sticker law. And other than a hefty fine, the ticket is causing a huge controversy that extends far past the Bonneau city limits.
The town is well-known for being a speed trap as well as for aggressive prosecution by local police, with more than one case getting thrown out. According to a 2005 story in the Charleston Post and Courier, the town's traffic enforcement practices are a great source of revenue:
Bonneau's two-man police force hands out about 65 traffic tickets per month at an average of $232 per ticket, earning the town a listing on the Speed Trap Exchange's Web site.
Not all of that money goes to the town, but when it's all said and done, Thompson and his partner generate about 25 percent of Bonneau's annual budget of $252,600.
Actually, 65 tickets a month would generate $15,080 a month, for a total of $180,960 a year. If even half the tickets are thrown out, the town still probably nets more than it costs to keep the two officers on payroll.
But it's likely that the costs of the publicity associated with this case, which has generated national attention, has cost the town far more than the cost of the ticket.
A web search will turn up interesting tales about the town, like this one and this one. But ask anyone who lives in the Lowcountry for any amount of time (myself included) and you'll hear stories of their traffic enforcement practices.
But it's likely that the costs of the publicity associated with this case, which has generated national attention, has cost the town far more than the cost of the ticket.
A web search will turn up interesting tales about the town, like this one and this one. But ask anyone who lives in the Lowcountry for any amount of time (myself included) and you'll hear stories of their traffic enforcement practices.
The best advice to driving through Bonneau is to make sure you set the cruise at 45 (the posted speed limit) and have all your lights in proper order. If the coast is clear, keep moving and don't stop before their cop, driving a black Dodge Charger, pulls onto U.S. 52.
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